Pipe racking apparatus



A May 17, 1949. J. E. WHlT ED PIPE BACKING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 10, 1945 FIG! Q M Q w IN V EN TOR.

2 Sheets-Sheet l May 17, 1949. w J. E. WHITED PIPE BACKING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed'Oct. 10, 1945 FIG.2

FIG.3

Patented May 17, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PIPE RACKING APPARATUS John E. Whited, Shawnee, Okla. Application October 10, 1945, Serial No. 621,486

2 Claims.

The invention pertains to pivoted. arms for handling the upper ends of drill pipe or tubing standing in an oil well derrick.

When well pipe is brought out of an oil well it is broken off in sections and these sections are stood on end, or racked atone side of the oil well derrick. A fourble board or platform is provided in the upper portion of the derrick, upon which a workman may stand to swing the upper end of the pipe stands into a position in which they tiltably recline against the derrick, and also to swing such upper ends out from the sides of the derrick into a position in which they may be engaged by usual well pipe elevators. These well pipe stands are very heavy, usually consisting of three or four sections, and it is therefore quite a chore for a man to properly handle the upper ends of the stands quickly and safely.

The present invention includes an arm pivoted to the fourble board or platform on a vertical axis, so that it may act as a means for engaging and holding the upper end of a drill pipe stand while the stand is being swung into or out of "racked position.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a racking apparatus for the purpose set forth, which will engage and steady the upper moved from an inclined or stacked position to a substantially vertical position where it may be engaged by a usual pipe elevator, and vice versa.

Another Object is to provide apparatus of this into a retrieved posiclass which may be folded tion when not in use so that it will not interfere with other operations in and around the oil well derrick.

A further object is to arm which may be swung from a position in which center of the derrick, to a horizontal position in which it projects along one side of a derrick.

Another object is to provide a pipe racking arm which may be latched in either of the two last above mentioned positions.

A still further object is to provide an arm of this class which is spring actuated to normally return to a retrieved position.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a pipe racking apparatus for the purpose as set forth which is comparably simple in construction, and which may be attached to any usual fourble-board or derrick platform.

Other objects will be apparent from the folprovide a pipe racking in a horizontal plane it projects toward the end of a pipe stand while it is being lowing description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying two sheets of drawings,

- wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a suitable derrick platform with the arm of the present invention shown operatively mounted thereon;

Fig. 2 is a similar view with a portion of the arm folded over the platform; and,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through the arm and platform.

Like characters of reference designate like parts in all the figures wherein they occur.

In the drawings:

The reference numeral 1 indicates, as a whole, a fiat fourble-board which is usually positioned in the upper portion of a well derrick for providing support for a derrick worker, so that he may rack or un-rack the upper end of a well pipe stand, and so that he may latch or un-latch usual well pipe elevators from the stands. The board I is provided at one side with a plurality of spaced legs or fingers 2 between which the upper ends of the pipe stands 3 are rested when the pipe is stacked or racked. The fourbleboard I could well be a type of derrick platform which often forms a part of a gin-pole-type of well derrick, if desired.

The invention, per se, consists substantially of a fiat metal plate 4 adapted to be rigidly attached by detents 5 adjacent one edge of the fourbleboard I. The plate 4 has a centrally located through bore which journals for rotation a pintle or pivot pin l5. The upper portion of the pintle 6 is keyed to, or made integral with, a flat fitting I having laterally spaced parallel upstanding ears or brackets 8 formed as a part thereof. A grease fitting 9 may be provided in the upper end of the pintle 6 for lubricating the bearing thereof through suitable passages, if desired. The ears 8 of the fitting 1 are horizontally perforated to receive a hinge pin l0.

Pivoted upon the pin I!) is a heavy metal casting or hinge member H which is rigidly connected to a channel iron arm !2 having upright side flanges l3. The free end I4 of the arm I! is equipped with oppositely disposed arcuate pipe clamping elements [5 which are preferably made of strap-iron.

Each of the clamping elements l5 has a straight portion l6 which extends along the outside surface of one of the side flanges l3 of the arm l2. The straight portions iii are each connected to an adjacent flange l3 by a plurality of bolts l1, each of which is surrounded by an expansion spring l8. The springs l8 permit the arcuate end portions of the clamping elements to be moved away from each other a sufficient distance to permit the entry therebetween of one of the stands 3 of well pipe.

As illustrated in Fig. 2, the arm l2 may be folded back over the plate 4 with the hinge pin I acting as an axle. When in this position, the arm does not interfere with any of the usual well derrick operations.

The upper surface of the plate 4 is equipped with two upstanding ears I9, between which is pivotally mounted upon a pin 20 a hooked latch member 2|. The latch member 2| may be operated by the workers foot. The hooked end of the latch member 2| is adapted to engage over the flange l3 of the arm l2 for retaining the same in the full line position of Fig. 1. A suitable helical spring, not shown, is provided around the 'pin 20 for urging the hooked end of the latch member 2l' toward its latched position.

As best illustrated in Big. .-1, the .arm .12 may be moved on the pin-tle l5 from the position shown in solid lines, to that illustrated in dotted lines. When in the dotted line position, the arm will steady the stand -8 so that usual pipe elevators may be engagedor disengaged therefrom. (A suitable stop member 25 is provided \to limit the pivotal movement of the arm l2 in .an obvious manner. When the arm isswung to the solidline position, the stand may be manually removed from between the clamping elements l5 so that it may be racked between the fingers 2 in an obvious manner.

The dependin end of the pintle 6 is surrounded by .a suitable helical spring 22 (Fig. 3-) which acts to normally urge the arm 42 toward the solid line position of Fig. l. .A-bearing plate '23 is provided between the .upperend'of thespring 22 and the lower surface of the :plate 4.

It is thought that operation of the device will be apparent, to those versed in the art, without further description.

'I claim:

1. In apparatus for handling the upper ends of well pipe stands, the combination withastationary platform located above a derrick noon-of: a fitting pivotally mounteddi-rectly upon the platform for horizontal swinging movement with relation thereto; .a rigid arm; vertically {projecting longitudinally extending side flanges carried by the arm; a hinged connection between the fitting and one end-of the arm whereby the arm may be folded upwardly over the platform into inoperative position; a pair of laterally movable fingers each having a longitudinal portion lying flatly 4 against the outside surface of one of said flanges, and each having an arcuate portion projecting longitudinally beyond the free end of said arm, said arcuate portions confronting each other for engaging opposite surfaces of upper portions of said pipe stands; a plurality of bolts extending laterally through the flat portion of one of said fingers, and through the adjacent flange of said arm. said bolts projecting beyond the flange toward the longitudinal :axis of the arm; an expansion spring around the projecting portion of each bolt; and a nut on each bolt for holding its spring under compression whereby said arcuate portions are resiliently urged into frictional engagement with said stands.

2 In apparatus for handling the upper ends of well pipe stands, the combination with a stationary platform' located above a derrick floor, of

afltting pivotally mounted directly upon the platform for horizontal swinging movement with relation thereto; .a rigid arm; vertically projecting longitudinally extending side flanges carried by the arm; a hinged connection between the fitting and one end of the arm whereby the arm maybe folded upwardly over the platform into inoperative position; a latch on'the platform for latchin the arm against horizontal swinging movement with relation thereto; a pair of laterally movable fingers each having a longitudinal portion -lying flatly against the outside surface of one of said flanges, and each having an arcuate portion projecting longitudinally beyond the free end of said arm, said arcuate portions confronting each other for engaging opposite surfaces of upper portions of said pipe stands; a plurality of bolts extending laterally through the flat portion of one of said fingers, and through the adjacent flange of said arm, said bo'lts .projectingbeyond the flange toward the longitudinal axis of the arm; an expansion spring around the projecting, portion of each bolt; and a nut on each bolt .for holding its spring under compression whereby said arcuate portions are resiliently urged into frictional engagement with said stands.

JOHN E. WI-lIT-ED.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,720,828 Fentress et a1 July 16, .1929 1,956,147 Carpenter .Apr. 24, 1934 

